Deformed and health-challenged dwarf miniature horses were once the dark secret of the horse world. Now a charity from the unlikely ranks of elite hunter/jumper riders is rescuing these needy horse citizens and -- dare we say it?-- nurturing their inner diva spirits. With pink manes and perfectly banged tails, they have taken the show scene by storm and raised awareness for the problems these special needs horses must face. "Peeps", the charity's original rescue, posed this weekend on the welcome mat at Dover Saddlery in Wellington, Florida. Little Peeps even has her own sponsor to help with her custom wardrobe: Horseware Ireland.

Equine rescue charities are universally noble, hard-working, and struggling to survive. But one is cute, cuddly and an overwhelming success. Meet The Peeps Foundation, founded by hunter/jumper riders on a mission to re-home (and glamorize) miniature horses challenged by the ill health effects of dwarfism. With perfectly banged tails, pulled manes, and crooked legs, the proud Peeps herd wants to win your heart--and probably will.

Tomorrow is #GivingTuesday, the annual day of donations to non-profits in the spirit of the holidays. We’re encouraged to be generous and support our favorite organizations on this day of holiday largesse.

ADVERTISEMENT

Thanks for watching!

But in this age of social media, we’re bombarded with news and appeals from non-profits all year round. Many people say they feel immune to even the most shocking welfare violations. They’ve heard and seen in all before. Their news feeds are full of it every day. Some even suggest that organizations sensationalize the plight of horses and other animals in order to fundraise--and that they don’t know how or if the funds ever reach or directly benefit the animals themselves.

ADVERTISEMENT

Thanks for watching!

ADVERTISEMENT

Thanks for watching!

What's a well-meaning charity to do?

While the tone and volume of formulaic fundraising is unlikely to change, the landscape around it is evolving. Everyone wants to do something to help horses, and most of us do, whether with our annual checks or with our volunteer services. Even sharing social media messages from the charities you support can be a gesture of charity. They need us.

How many horses would be allowed into Dover Saddlery to do their Christmas shopping? Two minis from The Peeps Foundation ruled the Wellington store of the tack shop chain this weekend.

But for some people the idea of helping horses has meant the rolling up of sleeves and the simple act of performing the now-famous gesture of Loren Eisley's “Starfish Story”--making a difference to one starfish by putting it back in the sea, even if you can’t possibly rescue every one of them stranded on the beach by the departing tide.

You may have a "starfish" in your own barn, a rescued horse or a repurposed racehorse whose future might have been anything but bright if you hadn't come along when you did. Maybe you have a barn cat or a puppy or even a guppy that needed a home, and you said that important word: “Yes.” You took them in.

Veterinary information about dwarfism in miniature horses is hard to find. More research has been published about dwarfism in the relatively small Friesian horse breed than in miniature horses.

Unlike the dog world, which has countless breed-specific rescues and focused charities for gun dogs or Greyhounds and a raft of others, the horse world has been slow to specialize. Early exceptions have been Our Mims Retirement Farm in Kentucky, which aims to benefit retired broodmares, and the veterinarian-led Connecticut Draft Horse Rescue. The original specialist charities are from the UK, where The Donkey Sanctuary limited its efforts to needy donkeys, and The Brooke, which began to specifically support medical care for World War I military horses abandoned in the Middle East after the war and put to work on the streets of Cairo.

Adoption is now second-nature in the US horse industry. We’re proud of our rescues. There's a story behind every horse in every stall at some boarding barns. We’re supportive of the non-profits doing the heavy lifting to find, rehabilitate and re-train horses in need. If you have a special interest in the horse world, chances are that there is now or will soon be a charity that is dedicated to rehabilitating or rehoming that breed or type of horse.

The Peeps Foundations dwarfs in rehabilitation live in first-class hunter/jumper barns as they travel the East Coast show circuit. Notice that the darker one eats from a tub that is raised off the floor, making it easier for him to reach without taxing his very deformed front legs.

Some of us support with our checkbooks, some as volunteers. Some of us write about what’s going on, some take photos of horse in need, and still others are happy to march in protest rallies, ask people to sign petitions or stick labels on envelopes for donation drives.

Alex Granato and Josh Dolan are hunter/jumper circuit riders on a mission to rescue and rehome miniature horses in need, especially dwarfs. But, they fully intend to have fun doing it, and to make their fundraising efforts a pleasure for everyone involved. And yes, they have a miniature goat, too.

We follow in Angell’s hoofprints by bringing home one "starfish" horse at a time, by supporting the work of those who save hundreds at a time, and by looking for that one spark that rings true in our hearts and defines our personal role and potential legacy in the equine welfare paradigm.

If you’re looking for inspiration this holiday season, look no further than Josh Dolan and Alex Granato, who put all these pieces together. You may know their names from horse shows, and never thought that they would have the time or interest to help the shaggy, humpbacked little gnome-like dwarfs who limp around the edges of the horse world.

Let’s put it this way: you either think these horses are cute, or you run the other way. Josh and Alex not only thought they were cute, they ran toward them, gathered them up in their arms, and brought them home.

Farrier visits are a very down-to-earth experience for everyone involved. The dwarfs are often worked on while recumbent. In this photo, Curtis Burns, inventor of the Polyflex glue-on shoe, is applying an extension shoe to a tiny foot. He may also add a wedge onto the bottom of the foot by building up the ground surface of the shoe with adhesive that can be rasped down as the leg (hopefully) straightens. It's important for the Foundation to rescue dwarfs as foals so the legwork can be done while they are still growing, and before malformed joints fuse into permanent deformities.

“Home” is all relative, when you are a professional horse show rider. The original rescue took place at a farm that was just a stone’s throw from the Split Rock Farm Jumping Show in Kentucky. Josh and Alex were there to ride. By the time they moved on to the next show, they had 20 minis to figure out how to transport there.

Now wherever they go, whether to Lexington, Tryon or Wellington’s Winter Equestrian Festival, and many places between, Josh and Alex have an entourage with them in addition to their show string. Miniature horses live in stalls designed for 17-hand warmbloods. They’re groomed by professionals delighted to experiment with hair dyes and unique braiding techniques. Their feet are polished, their pasterns clipped and their manes and tails would earn any show pony’s envy.

But what Josh wishes for is that all the spit and polish applied to the adoptees will make people see them in a new light, and also build awareness of the need for responsible breeding of miniature horses, and the need for more research into their preventing and solving their health problems.

These two photos show some of the "before" conditions of the dwarfs when they arrive at The Peeps Foundation. Sometimes simple trimming and exercise can help, other cases respond to special shoes. When Joey, the top horse, arrived, you could see the frogs of his feet without lifting them. Toasty, the lower horse, is now responding to special glue-on extension shoes.

Success hasn’t been without drama--and plenty of vet bills. Peeps, the little dwarf with the flamboyant pink mane to match her signature cooler, almost died from Rhodococcus equi, a common bacterial cause of pneumonia in foals. A course of antibiotics required her to live in a dark stall with three heaters keeping her warm.

Several of the dwarfs have had special needs in the hoofcare department. After a showjumper client connected him with Josh, glue-on horseshoe entrepreneur Curtis Burns saw the opportunity to not only help the often-deformed minis' feet but also to test new products that might help other minis all over the world.

Peeps was the Nations Cup mascot at the Winter Equestrian Festival in Wellington, Florida. (Photo courtesy of www.thepeepsfoundation.com)

Farrier and barrel racer Dana Hall helps the Foundation when they are in her area around Tryon, North Carolina. They adjust shoes or re-shoe often, as the small legs react quickly to the correction of extension shoes or wedges.

The deformed feet and limbs on the dwarfs are the most visible signs that they need help. It is critical to help them on their feet so they can move around, which helps stimulate their organs and airways. Dwarfs are often affected by heart and breathing problems. They typically have an underbite, which may make eating difficult, as well as extra teeth where they don't belong. Many dwarfs die or are euthanized in the first few months of their lives. The Foundation works closely with vets on the circuit.

The Peeps Foundation is getting into the holiday spirit. Yes, that's a llama.

The Peeps Foundation now has adoption applications from 114 prospective owners; they estimate that they have re-homed 100 so far. Their fundraising is delightfully original in that all they ask is that you love the little ones and have fun with them, too. That is simple enough to do, and if you want to support them, that’s ok, too, but spread the word. And the joy.

• • • • •

I hope the story of The Peeps Foundation will encourage readers to get involved with equine charities this holiday season. While giving money is certainly the point, giving support is a painless and inexpensive gift all of us can give our favorite charities. So share those Facebook posts and tell your horse friends about the groups you support, and why. Don't be afraid to voice your own ideas for helping horses, and find a way to make the holidays this year happier for some horses who'd like to bring you joy, in return.